BLYTHSWOODNEWS - Providing the most important meal of the day - Blythswood Care
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3 5 15
Clean water improves Giving time and space Training helps Farzana
health in Philippines to complete homework fulfil her vision
BLYTHSWOODNEWS
Number 75 Spring 2021
Providing
the most
important
meal of the day
Story on page 2
Blythswood News COMMUNITY COMMUNITY Blythswood News
Cover story
Give a child a month of early teens, brings some
CLEAN WATER IMPROVES HEALTH
daily nutritious meals – order into Gabriel’s life.
Gift Code DA5 “We gave him a tablet OF CHILDREN IN PHILIPPINES
so that he can connect to
Breakfast. Would you let online classes but we
your child leave home insist on him coming in
without it? here each morning,” says
Carmen Popa, teacher at
Gabriel, aged 13, doesn’t have Talita Kum.
anyone to tell him what to do.
He lost his parents when he “This means he starts with
was very young. His older a nutritious breakfast before
brother is working in joining school online under
Germany. The sister with our supervision, so that
whom he stays is working he doesn’t fall asleep.
full-time and frequently Then we give him lunch
away overnight. and continue with the
normal pre-lockdown TK2
There is no-one to cook him a programme of homework,
meal. No-one to tell him to games and other activities.
go to bed. No-one to tell him
when to get up. And with the “He is managing okay at
schools closed during the school but he’s a bright kid
coronavirus lockdown in and we know he could do so
Romania, he has no incentive much better. Regular meals
to follow schoolwork. and sleep patterns are so
important. Without the TK2
Only TK2, Blythswood’s programme, his talents
after-school programme for would be wasted.” The With a clean water supply,
new well children in Bitibut no longer
installed suffer amoeba sickness
Care with clean water – Now the family and their The deep well has an electric
Gift Code OH6 neighbours enjoy access to pump and is serving the
a clean and safe water needs of 35 families in
Susan and Dodong nearly supply installed in May 2020 Bitibut, a village in the
lost one of their children and funded by Blythswood’s southern Philippines.
two years ago when their Gift Catalogue.
little boy took ill with “Now there are no cases of
amoeba, an intestinal “It came just in time,” says amoeba sickness,” says Mary
infection that results in Mary Ann Catayong. “During Ann. “The people are so
sickness and diarrhoea. the pandemic, clean water is thankful carrying safe water
The cause was the unsafe more important than ever for to their homes. It is a
water supply on which they hand-washing and hygiene great blessing.”
Bright kid: Gabriel taught himself to ride the unicycle Susan and Dodong relied at their home village as well as for cooking.”
and is good at football and chess take home clean water in the Philippines.
2 Donation line 01349 830777 Mon to Fri 9am – 5pm www.blythswood.org/gift-catalogue 3
Blythswood News EDUCATION EDUCATION Blythswood News
The life-long
value of Christian
example at
Blythswood’s
Daniel Centre
Believing in young people – “Growing up in care I always
gift code R1 had an issue with rules and at
the Daniel Centre we seemed
One of the first young men to to be surrounded by a wall Talita Kum is a place of learning for children like Daniela, who lack
benefit from Blythswood of rules. We were looking space at home in which they can complete homework
Care’s Daniel Centre when it only to benefit ourselves but
opened 21 years ago we discovered that the house-
has returned to mentor parents Sandel and Cristina GIVING TIME AND SPACE
and encourage a new treated us with love.
generation of youngsters
leaving state care “Why were they like that?
TO COMPLETE HOMEWORK
in Romania. We had not experienced this Learning for life – skills. At home, Daniela shares
before. Somehow we were Gift Code R2 a small two-roomed house with
Now 40 years old, Sergiu drawn to act in the same way, her parents and five siblings.
recognises the help he received to be loving. Looking back What do you want to be Her dad is a farm labourer and
at a crucial stage in his now, I believe that was the when you grow up? both he and his wife can read
development and wants to main benefit to me of my time and write. “They are supportive
encourage young people in a at the Daniel Centre. Daniela wants to be a lawyer. of their children’s education up
similar way today. It’s a bold ambition for a timid to a point but expect them to
“The second was that I was Sergiu (3rd right) at the Daniel Centre then and now. Director Balazs 10-year-old but one her teachers leave school as soon as they
“Two of us came from the encouraged to complete Csiszer says: “Young people today have a much more positive experience reckon could well be within can, to start earning money,”
orphanage,” he remembers. high school. As a result I went of growing up in care. In a rapidly changing world our objective remains her potential. Carmen explains.
“We thought that someone on to university in Cluj and to show them the same Christian care that changed the life of Sergiu.”
was offering us a job. graduated as an engineer “She is clever and enjoys “Daniela will need a lot of
in 2007.” expertise is in metallurgy, in shift and weekend duty school and works independently,” encouragement if she is to
“But soon we discovered that laser and plasma technology, during lockdown. says Carmen Popa, teacher at pursue her dream and go on
compared to our friends we had Sergiu, who converses easily and in programming. Blythswood’s after-school to university.”
found something special. Yes, in English and has also got “The boys like my knowledge programme, Talita Kum.
we were involved in painting some Russian and French, At church he assists with sound of computer science,” he says, “She is socially timid but we Talita Kum provides after-school
the building but much more continues to work on a systems and projection and “but I want to give them are trying to get her to open up tuition, food and hygiene to
than that we found we had a consultancy basis for an when Blythswood Romania’s something more than that. more, to make friends with the disadvantaged children in
home and people who wanted engineering firm in which he director Balazs Csiszer met him I remember the example set other children and to have Jimbolia, Romania. TK2
to help us. had a management role for again last year he agreed to help by Sandel and Cristina and I new experiences.” extends the programme to
over seven years. His at the Daniel Centre with a night want to show them the value help teenagers in junior
of being honest and reliable.” A skiing trip planned for late secondary school.
January will test her social
4 Donation line 01349 830777 Mon to Fri 9am – 5pm www.blythswood.org/gift-catalogue 5
Blythswood News. COMMUNITY EDUCATION Blythswood News
MOSQUITO NETS SEWING SKILLS PROGRAMME
REDUCE RISK OF WAS NEW BEGINNING FOR GINROSE
STILL-BIRTHS Sewing skills – Gift code DA4
IN LIBERIA Ginrose was experiencing
difficulties in her marriage
Mosquito net – sweets and small packets of sponsored through Blythswood’s when she was persuaded to
Gift Code OH5 powdered milk. Gift Catalogue. “This lady asked join a sewing training
for one for Dorcas but our policy programme sponsored by
A mother of two whose She was in that condition in is only to give them to those Blythswood Care in
third child had been April, with a persistent cough whom we interview in person,” Harare, Zimbabwe.
still-born not long before which neighbours feared might says Rev Charles Johnson.
was among thirty to receive be coronavirus but was more It wasn’t easy for the 34-year-old
the gift of a mosquito net likely caused by the smoky “Dorcas looked tired when she mother of two children to find
from Blythswood Care mosquito coils which she arrived with her friend the next money for the bus fare across
in June. burned to repel the insects. day. She was in tears telling us the city but her husband who
With the family’s cash income her story and said if they had works in security agreed to
Dorcas is a street trader and sometimes as low as thirty been sleeping under a net she help. The provision of free lunch
her husband a subsistence dollars a month, buying a might not have lost her baby. to participants in the eight-month
farmer in a village several miles mosquito net was never an option. course was an incentive, too.
from Monrovia, Liberia. There “Your gift of mosquito nets can
have been times when malarial A neighbour happened to call at make such a difference to Her husband was present at
fever has left her too weak to Watch & Pray Mission just as it families like these. The women the graduation in November Recently-acquired skills enable Ginrose to run her own small
stand in the street, selling her was distributing mosquito nets were extremely grateful.” where she exceeded her own business and supplement their family income
expectations and won the top
prize in a class of 22 graduates. “It was a joy to see their Stephen reports that previous
Foodbank provides for Over 70,000
“My wife and I had a visit from
relationship transformed. graduates from the sewing
programme are now running
people fed
family denied access through our
Ginrose and her husband a few
weeks later,” says Stephen
“Now they both go to church
and are living in a changed
sewing shops as far away as
Mozambique, Namibia,
to public funds foodbanks
since starting
Damuputirai, director of
Streams of Hope, Zimbabwe.
world. We are so glad for them
and for their two children.”
Botswana and Zambia.
Feed a family UK – Gift code UK2 in 2005
A mother with four “The health visitor advised help people in need at the says. “At least they are in together what we call a kettle
children was referred to us that they have been placed immediate point of crisis, not a flat which has a kitchen pack, with Cuppa Soup, Pot
Blythswood’s southeast in temporary accommodation on an ongoing basis. and crockery. Noodle, biscuits, tea, coffee,
Edinburgh Foodbank and that they have no access tins of cold meat and crisps –
in January by the to public funds,” says Rosie Exceptions can only be made in “Before Christmas we were basically any foodstuffs which
Health Visitors Team. Fraser, the Foodbank close cooperation with the asked to help a family from don’t require cooking. We also
The eldest child was volunteer who arranged delivery referring agency. Romania. They had been gave them cereal and bought
nine years old and the of a food parcel to the family. placed in a budget hotel room cutlery and bowls so that they
youngest just “The Health Visitor has asked with no cooking facilities, no could eat it.”
two months. The Foodbank follows the that we do this weekly until crockery and utensils and no
Trussell Trust policy which is to their situation improves,” Rosie fridge. For them we put
6 Donate online at any time - go to blythswood.org/donate Donation line 01349 830777 Mon to Fri 9am – 5pm 7
Blythswood
shoeboxappeal.org
News COMMUNITY COMMUNITY Blythswood News
Learning from those SHOE BOX
we set out to help SUCCESS
Six-year-old Bogdan isn’t a
great talker but there’s no
mistaking his delight at
finding a tow truck set
among the goodies in a
Blythswood shoebox.
Bogdan has learning difficulties
and needs a lot of supervision
according to Dumitru Sevastian
who distributed the gift-filled
boxes to low-income families in
rural Moldova. “He and his
Your gifts to Blythswood’s mother were very thankful for
Gift Catalogue enable the your gifts,” he says.
Basis project to assist around
30 low-income households Despite Covid-19 restrictions,
within a 50 kilometre radius Blythswood’s 2020 Shoe Box
of the city of Cluj, providing Appeal produced 75,218
Your boxes
gifts made
food, clothing and which were delivered to people
Christmas
social contact in need in eight
come countries from
early for Valer
the Danube to theandBlack Sea.
his family
A partner organisation in Bulgaria
even took some boxes to Syrian
Fund a family Eastern Europe means that he can save enough “Last summer he didn’t and Iranian refugees in Turkey.
– Gift code DA12 to pay for medicine and to buy leave home because of the
fuel for his stove. virus but the summer before Blythswood’s head of projects,
Ten years after suffering a life- I had arranged to take him Finlay Mackenzie says: “I want
changing injury, a Romanian He also supplements his diet by by car to visit the pasture to thank everyone who supported
small-holder continues to live keeping goats and hens and where he used to graze this appeal by filling a box and
independently in his village cultivating his vegetable patch horses, before his accident. by volunteering their time.
home with support from with help from his neighbours. He asked me to stop at a The economic impact of the
Blythswood Care. fishpond where he bought a pandemic meant that these gifts
Basis volunteer Agnes Csiszer is large fish which he cooked were more important than ever.”
And his positive enjoyment of all sometimes accompanied on her on an open fire.
that life has to offer makes him visits by one of the lads from
Despite being paraplegic, an inspiration to those who go Blythswood’s Daniel Centre. “I had never enjoyed a fish
Iulian enjoys life to the full. to offer help. so much. I learn a lot from
“He has worn out his wheelchair,” “Iulian makes sure we never Iulian – faith, trust, love
says Basis volunteer Agnes Iulian’s disability pension is leave empty-handed,” she says. of life. He’s always happy
Csiszer. “It badly needs to be meagre but the monthly food “He wants to give us eggs, or and smiling and planning
refurbished or replaced.” package which he receives from vegetables or goats’ milk something new.”
Blythswood’s Basis project or chestnuts.
8 Transforming lives through Christian care for body and soul 9
Blythswood News COMMUNITY COMMUNITY Blythswood News
Healthy diet is part of GIFT OF HENS
Christian care at Dayspring BOOSTS DIET OF
Feed forty children –
Gift Code OH4 ELDERLY COUPLE
When Srihari was taken by Aid with an animal – Gift Code DA11
an uncle to Dayspring House
in 2017, he was in a bad way. Mariyka received the gift of poultry in March 2020,
just as the coronavirus lockdown came to
Malnourished and weak, he her mountain village home in the
was emotionally disturbed by Sliven region of Bulgaria.
years of neglect from his mother
who is addicted to alcohol. Life is not easy for the pensioner as she cares
for her husband who suffered a stroke five years
But four years of a healthy diet, ago and is unable to get out of bed.
a stable social environment and
encouragement with schoolwork “Your gift has made such a difference to this couple,”
have transformed him into reports Zhani Slavcheva who had identified the couple as
healthy and alert teenager. being in need of support. “Now they enjoy fresh eggs and
sometimes meat, too. They feel isolated by the lockdown
“Srihari is making progress at Fresh vegetables are an important but Mariyka enjoys looking after her hens.”
school and is eager to learn,” part of the children’s diet at Dayspring
says Pastor Samuel Babu who
oversees the project near where possible. Although her “It was distressing for him to see
Hyderabad, India, providing a problem remains unresolved, her inebriated,” Samuel says.
Christian home environment for Srihari’s mother was among “Our hearts melted within us
up to 40 orphaned and those who heard the gospel when we saw him crying. He is
neglected children. story at a special service just one example of many destitute
at Dayspring two days children who have found shelter
The children’s diet at Dayspring before Christmas. and care in Dayspring.”
consists of fresh vegetables,
rice and fruit, and includes milk,
curd, chicken and eggs to make
sure they receive the protein
they require.
“Blythswood’s kind support
means that they receive
nutritious, healthy food,” Samuel
says. “Our cook Janiswani and
housemother Vimlamma prepare
it for them fresh every day.”
The children are helped to Kite festival at Dayspring: your support gives children like Srihari
maintain contact with relatives the opportunity to escape poverty and fulfil their potential
10 Donation line 01349 830777 Mon to Fri 9am – 5pm www.blythswood.org/gift-catalogue 11
Blythswood News GOSPEL GOSPEL Blythswood News
ONE BOOK REACHES MANY
PEOPLE IN EAST AFRICA
Literature for life worldwide – Provided by Blythswood Care,
Gift Code CL8 the book was passed on to the
Bible teacher by Pastor Osman
A single copy of one good Magaso who preaches in
book is touching the lives of Malawi, Mozambique
over 50 women in Zimbabwe. and Zimbabwe.
Mrs Betty Mpofu received a In 2020 Pastor Magaso
copy of the Africa Bible distributed 25 copies of the
Commentary in 2019 and Africa Bible Commentary to
makes daily use of it as she head teachers of 25 schools
ministers to widows and in southern Malawi.
married women in Harare. “Many thanks to you and your
donors,” he writes. “This book
The one-volume commentary is so helpful to teachers and
Betty Mpofu shares her written by African theologians students. It provides Bible
Bible knowledge with offers perspectives that are knowledge to people in
widows and married women relevant and accessible to remote areas.” Journalist Inakanyambo Dévote at the microphone: with support from Blythswood Care, Radio
in Harare lay-people such as Betty, Ivyizigiro broadcasts gospel messages in four languages and offers personal counselling by phone
who completed High School
in Zimbabwe.
Gospel broadcasts change lives in
Africa’s Great Lakes Region
Give life transforming gifts Broadcast the Bible –
Gift code CL7
But as she listened to a gospel
message broadcast on Radio
and is the mother of a healthy
eight-month-old baby girl.
Blythswood’s Gift Catalogue is your Ivyizigiro she was arrested – Now she is committed to the
opportunity to give gifts that ‘If you die, where will not by police but by the Lord and thanks God for
transform lives you go?’ realisation that she would his love.”
answer to God.
You can celebrate a birthday or It’s a question as unsettling in Ivyizigiro is the Swahili word
anniversary, wish someone a happy the 21st century as it was in Broadcaster Onésime for hope. Based in Burundi
Easter or simply say thank you by the days of Jesus. For Jeannine, Harubuntu states it bluntly. and run by Blythswood’s
sharing with your friend or family a resident of Bujumbura, it was “She was afraid of hell,” he partner organisation World
member the joy that comes from a question that changed her life. says. “She decided not to Outreach Initiatives, the station
helping someone in need. abort this child. Instead she broadcasts gospel messages
She had planned to terminate repented and received Jesus and health advice in Kirundi,
her pregnancy before it became Christ as her own Saviour French, Swahili and English,
When you buy a gift, you receive a gift card in the post to pass on to your friend or loved one. obvious. Already she had done and Lord. reaching listeners throughout
This card shows how the gift bought on their behalf will impact the life of someone in need. this three times before. God Africa’s Great Lakes Region.
knew it was her intention to do “Now she has abandoned her
Access online at www.blythswood.org/gift-catalogue or call 01349 830777 for a printed copy. so again. former lifestyle of casual sex
12 Donate today – call 01349 830777 Mon to Fri 9am – 5pm www.blythswood.org/gift-catalogue 13
Blythswood News. FUNDRAISING GOSPEL Blythswood News
Join us
S E E V E N T S
IN THE
r a is e f u n ds for
Help g p rojects
f o r m in
life-trans
Live Zoom sessions
Thur 25th March Adrian and
Carmen Popa, Romania.
Don’t be shy – you do church on
zoom, why not do Blythswood too?
Brains for Blythswood Your gifts fund a three-day training session for Sunday school teachers, equipping people like Farzana to
join a virtual quiz in March instruct children from Pakistan’s Christian minority community in the basic doctrines of their faith
Join the Virtual Kilt Walk
in April
Training helps Farzana fulfil her vision
5K Your Way Train a teacher Pakistan – very little about their religion. helped me to fulfil my vision.
Gift code CL5 “Now I have a class of 35
run, walk, swim or cycle in May “I decided to teach these children meeting every Sunday
Farzana is a teacher in a children in my district about the evening. I thank God that they
Climb Ben Nevis government primary school in Christian faith but felt the need are growing in their faith and
a village in Pakistan. for proper training and understanding of basic
in June a syllabus. Christian doctrine.”
“Over the past six years I
the gap between young people became aware that children “God answered my prayers
Bridging the Gap and their education? from the Christian minority when I was given the
Cross 21 bridges in 2021 community are at a opportunity to train to be a
disadvantage,” she says. Sunday School teacher in
“Most come from poor, February 2020. The course
uneducated families. They don’t named ’75 Stories’ was a
Find details of all events at have a Bible at home and know wonderful time for me and
www.blythswood.org/events-for-you
14 Donate online at any time - go to blythswood.org/donate Donation line 01349 830777 Mon to Fri 9am – 5pm 15
Blythswood News - From the Chief Executive
WE USE YOUR GIFTS TO CHANGE LIVES
How do you thank someone And here in the United
for a gift? Yes, you can say Kingdom, a family in temporary
thank you. But more than accommodation have food to
that, you can use it – eat and bowls to eat it from
and let the giver see you after a visit to one of our
use it. Your mum knitted Foodbanks (page 6).
you a jumper? Then let
her see you wear it! It’s our privilege to serve so many
different people with many
That’s our aim here in this issue complex needs. Your gifts are
of Blythswood News. Let us more useful than you may
show you how your gifts realise. They are changing lives
through Blythswood’s Gift for good.
Catalogue are being used to
change the lives of people
in need.
In the Philippines, Susan’s
children have improved health
thanks to clean water
(see page 3).
In Romania, Daniela has
been given time and space
to do her homework (page 5).
In Burundi, Jeannine has a healthy Your gifts have provided safe water
baby daughter – and peace with for villagers in the Philippines,
God – after a gospel message stopping the incidence of
on the radio dissuaded her from water-borne disease amongst
terminating her pregnancy James Campbell children – see page 3
(page 13). Chief Executive
But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope:
The steadfast love the LORD never ceases, His mercies
never come to an end; they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion,”
says my soul, “therefore I will hope in Him.”
Jeremiah 3:21-24
Blythswood Care, Deephaven, Evanton, Ross-shire IV16 9XJ
Tel. 01349 830777 info@blythswood.org www.blythswood.org
Blythswood Care is registered with and regulated by Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR): SC048001 and
a company limited by guarantee: 583493. Registered under Data Protection no. Z7689978. Blythswood Care
is a member of the Evangelical Alliance. Printed on paper manufactured from sustainably managed forestry, using
vegetable based ink. Please pass it on once you have read it, or recycle it. Blythswood aims for good stewardship of God’s
earth and reflects this is in the selection and disposal of all materials used in the organisation’s business.
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